AT RISE: It is Saturday morning. Dad is cooking breakfast and Mom is the table. The closed door to Boy’s bedroom is on the other side of the table. The door opens.
BOY: [Emerges from room and dramatically enters family area, glides across the “stage” with an extended thespian arm and bellows in a booming, cartoonish bad guy voice]: ***BAD*** MORNING! MWUAH HA HA HA!!!
MOM: [Jumps up and claps excitedly at the performance.]
BOY: [Takes bow.]
SCENE.
EPILOGUE: Boy comes over to Mom for laughing hugs. Mom says, “Do you accept tips? That was so good I want to pay you!” Boy says, “Sure!” Mom grabs jar of one dollar bills and throws a dollar at him. Reaches for another. It’s a $5. “Wait, I’m not going to pay you a five. Here.” Throws another single.
Gavin was pretty pleased at making his own omelette today, as he should be. He didn’t even fret that a hole was exploding out the side of it. He said; “This is the ‘Just a flesh wound!’ of omelettes!”
“Just a Flesh Wound” of Omelettes
.
Also this day, Hubsand I escape to a favorite local coffee spot for the FIRST time since quarantine began. (!!)
Upon chatting a bit, our barista stopped in his tracks and said, “So your son made his own omelette and then busted out a Monty Python quote? Wow you guys are doing a great job!”
.
And the snow was so pretty this day it felt like this:
It’s worth noting that I am spoiled and also had a wonderful Valentine’s Day.
It starts when I run head first into this lovely man, sporting two drinks that are, well, red.
Shucks he even made little hearts out of red peppers. Oh! And grits with poached eggs, bacon and all the fixins.
#AdventuresinFood
.
As if for a special treat, the kids decide to play a video game (Minecraft), together!
Gavin lets CJ use his computer
You know you got a good brother there, letting you use his computer like that.
Somehow “Screen Time” doesn’t seem so bad when it’s a shared experience they’re creating.
.
Later on, rest assured that “Trying to beat mom in Backgammon” is more fun than it looks like they’re having in this photo:
Daddy & CJ team up against Mamma
Our *home* is even feeling more functional and beautiful than trashed these days… especially if you don’t look at my desk (seen partially covered in the background, next to the “fire” we’re playing on TV lol).
.
And since I am blogging this on Monday, allow me to share the scrumptiousness “Nurse Paul” just brought me in bed this morning;
Coffee, ibuprofen, and a bowl full of beans with “baked” eggs, grated cheese, avocado, diced onion, ground pepper, Cholula, and toasted Iggy’s sourdough bread. I messed up the presentation by gobbling several spoonfuls before I even thought to take the photo.
.
I’m fine; just out of shape and threw out my back apparently “breathing while middle aged.”
So I’m in bed like a big baby, with the TENS Unit on.
And also my other nurse on.
Peter Parker reports for duty.
.
Meanwhile it’s hella quiet in the other room where my kids’ screens are also on.
What can I do but concede.
And remit my gratitude for the innumerable blessings.
So what if I should be embarrassed by how much of the day is spent looking at our cats and making up dumb stuff about them. What can I say; it’s CircusKitchen Quarantine.
.
Dese Cats: jam packed with non stop action.
.
They are majestic athletes, really.
.
Supervised from behind, Darth Snowflake is the vision of stealth, speed, and determination.
TO MAKE THE DOUGH: Cream butter & sugar together until smooth. Add 1 egg yolk and 1 tsp Vanilla extract. Mix in 1C flour. Roll into two thick-ish (11″x3″) LOGS. Make indent along its length, like a trough.
Bake for 10 minutes at 350 degrees.
Remove from oven and reshape the troughs.
Add jam (or chocolate) into the trough, and bake for another 10-15 minutes.
Remove from oven and dribble glaze in ribbon-like lines.
Cut slices at slight angle, and enjoy!
.
Special thanks to Ms. Stacey for her imagination and leadership in creating these wonderful memories for our kids during these surreal times.
1) A moment of food-inspired joy for my son who is having an otherwise stressful morning in class; and not because he has a towel on his head. He showered and washed his hair this morning is all. On that score he has me beat by a long shot.
.
2) Daughter enjoying a well earned movie with her class of a book they recently read. And popcorn. Later they will kick off February Break by making cookies together (virtually of course).
.
3) And to think I started this day with a clean kitchen. Oh well, once I clean it again I will finally take that shower. As soon as I clean the litter box. And I’m sure I have some work to do. Like responsibilities and a life and an identity? I’m sure of it. At least I think I’m sure. Aren’t I?
RED TASKS: clear table + put away food + load dishwasher
BLUE TASKS: wipe table + wipe counters + sweep
MOMB (that’s me): sparkle sink and stove + setup dishwasher and tomorrow’s covfefe
NOTE: The kids actually chose these groupings of their tasks. (Turns out they both abhor wiping, lol.) Each evening they decide who does RED or BLUE.
.
That these tasks are so clear now and displayed in this aspirational Pinterest-like style causes me to feel surprise, relief, gratitude and hope.
I’d say my key to achieving this clarity comes from slowly incorporating the kids into conversations around these things so they feel empowered with ownership over the process, and hopefully good about themselves for their meaningful contributions to a functioning household.
Also practicing enough patience to make the lists pretty so they’re pleasant to have around, with the agreed upon understanding that they are imperfect, aspirational, and open to revision as needed. (I got the frames from the dollar store, btw, and used either dry erase marker or Sharpie to write on the glass. )
The fact that my kids are 9 and 12 years old is also significant.
Not to mention that Dear Hubsand does nearly all the cooking.
The thought of going back in time makes me shudder.
But thankfully I have this blog through which I can take a peek into the past anytime.
Speaking of which, thanks for dropping in on our journey! (o:
On this (first ever second presidential impeachment) day, I managed to make banana bread for my Distance Learners.
.
.
This is about all I’m good for, in terms of proctoring L’Ecole a la Maison; just Les Snacks.
And look at that child; food hanging right out her galactic face, right there in Class Meeting and her teacher just rolling with it.
I mean, I don’t *really* know what’s going on with all their schoolwork at any given time. And our “Dress Code” is pretty much, “Whatever you happened to wake up in.”
Oh the things these teachers see in our homes on the daily. I can only begin to imagine.
circuskitchen 